Monday 31st December
Lingfield 1.50 Handicap, 1m Class 2
Archie Watson operates at a cool 25% strike rate at Lingfield the last 5 years, a healthy £33 level stakes profit, he teams up with Luke Morris who’s in great current form and they have a 20% strike rate together. It’s Archie Watson’s only runner of the day and the horse in question CHEVALLIER loves Lingfield, he has 4 wins from 12 over today’s C&D and even in defeat he has never been too far away. Although he’s 2lb above last winning mark, he was slightly unlucky not to win earlier in the year off a 3lb higher mark. He ran an encouraging race at Wolves at the start of the month, he’s handily dropped a 1lb and the return to this C&D will see his best.
Tuesday 1st January
Cheltenham 1.25 Dipper Novices Chase, 2m4f Grade 2
DEFI DU SEUIL clearly has the best form on show, he’s already beat Black Op who to be fair was his first run of the season, so certainly no surprises to see him reverse the form especially over a more testing course and trip. But DDS was also in front of Topofthegame LTO who then went on to run a huge run in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices, he was a close 2nd to La Bague Au Roi while giving away a huge 7lbs and in front of hype horse Santini back in 3rd, which clearly gives DDS the best form on show at present.
Wednesday 2nd January
Wolverhampton 2.50 Fast Track Qualifier, 7f Class 2 Fillies Conditions
CROSSING THE LINE impressed LTO beating a race fit Chelmsford course specialist Lucymai. Providing she can transfer her form to tapeta and providing no incidents, she looks again to have Lucymai in her pocket, with being better in the weights, would have come on for the run and still clearly progressive. Castle Hill Cassie the danger but a 3lb penalty to carry will be a burden.
Thursday 3rd January
Chelmsford 5.55 Handicap, 5f Class 2
Won’t be surprised to see ROYAL BIRTH run a big race, trainer is having a good season and in good current form, the gelding has a good record around this C&D that reads 131256, he’s slipped down to a dangerous mark and has close form with top weight will be well fancied Gracious John, at the weights he’ll reverse the form, but the 300+ day absence is a worry, so would only make him a tentative selection.
Friday 4th January
Kempton 4.20 Fast Track Qualifier, 6f Class 2 Conditions
The 2nd Fast Track Qualifier of the week and a tough race to work out, You Never Can Tell threw away chances LTO when slow away in another FTQ, but he finished best to claim 3rd, only 2 of the field have raced since but both won to boost the form, if he starts well, he could have the better of these. But SUNPRITE 3rd in the listed Ripon 2yo Trophy in August holds very hot form, the winner Sporting Chance won a Group 3 in France since, the 2nd Gypsy Spirit flew home to take a close 3rd in a good listed race at Newmarket, 4th Life Of Riley was 2nd in a Group 3 Goodwood, 5th Barbill won a huge prize in Ireland and then a good listed race in France, 6th Kessaar, half a length back from Sunsprite won a Group 3 and then the Group 2 Mill Reef stakes at Newbury. As said that form is very hot and the strongest of these, a little worry about the 130-day break and even if breeding says it should be fine, this will be the first time on synthetics.
